Memo reveals Levy asked Blair aide to 'lie' for him in honours row

Published on Tuesday 13 March 2007 01:15

RUTH Turner, the Prime Minister's key aide, wrote that Lord Levy, Labour Party's chief fundraiser, had asked her to "lie" for him in the cash-for-honours investigation, it was reported last night after a gagging order on the matter was lifted.

The disclosure came as three of the country's most senior judges yesterday lifted the final gag on the BBC in reporting the investigation.

The claim was made in a memo that the BBC had been banned from reporting, after police sought an injunction against the broadcaster.

Scotland Yard had also feared that revealing the contents of the document would tip off John McTernan, the director of political operations at Downing Street and mastermind of Labour's Scottish election campaign.

Mr Justice Wilkie, who granted the injunction against the BBC, yesterday told the Court of Appeal of the contents of the memo.

According to the BBC, he told a hearing: "There is a substantial element of truth in what the intended BBC broadcast was to say. There is a document addressed to Jonathan Powell in the course of which she [Ruth Turner] alleges that Lord Levy had asked her to lie for him."

Police initially sought the injunction as they feared their inquiry might be prejudiced by the reporting of the memo.

Angus MacNeil, the SNP MP who triggered the inquiry with a complaint to police, said Labour was lurching from "crisis to crisis" after the latest disclosure.

Lord Levy, Ms Turner and Mr McTernan have all denied any impropriety. It is believed the police are close to concluding their inquiry and sending final submissions to the Crown Prosecution Service.